Ron Kurtz - The Body Reveals

90	The Body Reveals

There are so many, no list could do them justice.

When the emotional life of an individual is explored, we usually find a central theme about which that life moves. One's world may be approached with a constant sense of terror, persistent suffering, fear of being reproached. An unchanging face is a mask we present to the world. Perhaps by appearing "stupid" or "innocent," we hope nothing will be asked of us. Or on seeing our "longing" or "panic," we expect to be comforted. Or in showing our "cynicism," we want others to experience our doubt and apathy regarding life and its energies. In some individuals, the facial mask becomes so organized that it takes on the nature of caricature such as: an "imp," "witch," "monster," "demon," "clown," or "devil."* The reader, with practice, should be able to recognize these caricatures in those about him, as well as himor herself.

When attempting to analyze a facial expression, some questions we pose for ourselves are: Is the face, as a whole, alive and full of expression, or is it expressionless and blank? Is the face symmetrical or asymmetric? That is, does it have a leftright split? Is the skin healthy and glowing? Is the general shape of the face long and thin, oval or round? What are the various skin colors present? What do they tell us about the individual's biological and emotional status?

After the above evaluation, more specific parts of the face are brought to attention; we may divide these into four areas.

The face is naturally divided in this fashion. The nose and the nasol-labial folds serve as the dividing markers. Area 1 includes lips, jaw, and mouth. Area 2 includes the right side of the face from forehead to nasol-labial fold. Structures found here are the right eye and eyebrow, the right forehead, and the area beneath the eyes. Area 3 includes the same structures as Area 2, only on the left side. Area 4 refers to the immediate area between the eyebrows.

In Figure 36, Body Within The Face, we can begin to note some functional relationships of the face to the body as a whole.

* See The Betrayal of the Body by Alexander Lowen.

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FIGURE 35. AREAS OF THE FACE.

FIGURE 36. BODY WITHIN THE FACE.

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TABLE 2

Area 1 jaw

mouth and lips

nasol-labial folds

chin

Area 2

eyebrows and eyes

Area 3

eyebrows and eyes

Area 4

forehead immediately between and slightly above eyebrows

pelvis

genitals and anus

under genitals and anus, thighs

ankles and feet

right shoulder, right arm, forearm and right hand

left shoulder, left arm, forearm, and left hand

head (brain—pineal gland)

We will now consider the parts in each area separately.

Area 1

The jaw may be overdeveloped and aggressively projected forward. Expressions related to the jaw include those of assertion, of getting what one wants, as well as eating, which aggressively involves actively chewing and biting. When the tightly held jaw is released by a deep tissue massage, anger and rage are often felt and expressed. It is interesting to note the relation of the jaw to the pelvis. The release of the pelvis is accompanied by similar emotions. In its sexual function, the mobilized pevlis is a vehicle for deep release and self-assertion. Blocking of the pelvis is associated with holding in the jaw. Hence, the jaw may be seen as the pelvis of the face.

Figure 37 illustrates the overdeveloped jaw. These individuals block and bind their emotional charge. The jaws may clench constantly, indicating ever-increasing charge which,

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FIGURE 37. THE OVERDEVELOPED JAW.

when lacking discharge, causes overdevelopment, Hence, the large jaw and jaw muscles. Feeling the pressure of blocked energy, these people project, with their jutting jaw, an aura of extreme aggression, and great determination. They are, in some sense, in a double bind, for their held energy cannot find an outlet. (Recall the aforementioned pelvic sexual block.) And so, they are internally driven. This may manifest itself on a social and interpersonal level as "pushiness," or a tendency to accept any challenge. However, these outward-directed actions are inadequate to release their bound energies. What is more, by acting aggressively they provoke an inner aggression which leads to more energy binding: a vicious circle exists. In therapy, the individual hopefully is able to gradually release his held-in anger safely and to an ever-increasing degree. With time, the jaw muscles relax, releasing the jutting jaw.

Alternately, the jaw may be underdeveloped, which is commonly referred to as a "weak" jaw and associated with a lack of assertion. We find here that the individual is most often undercharged. He is unable to take what he wants, unable to "get his teeth into it" or to "get a hold on it." In the authors' experience, a normally well developed jaw appears to be related to a well developed will. It may be noted in Figure 36 (page 91) that the chin and feet are related. In the same way, taking a

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reasonable stand is related to a balanced will, or being a pushover to a weak will.

The shape and activity of the mouth and lips tell us a great deal about an individual. It is widely accepted that the earliest stage in human development is centered around the activities of the mouth, especially sucking. When, for whatever reason, the infant's gratification at this stage is repeatedly interrupted, he experiences frustration. No matter how he may try to obtain satisfaction, to suck or cry or move, that is, To Act, he fails. When this pattern of frustration is reinforced by constant parental injunction ("You can't do anything right") from infancy through childhood, the individual comes to experience a deep-seated insecurity regarding his ability to perform. That is, in attempting to progress from passive dependence on the mother to independent action, he is frustrated. The child may be asked to do things beyond his capacity, or he may be held back, for example, if he attempts to feed himself but is too messy. He may be overprotected and not allowed the experience of succeeding and overcoming difficulties. As an adult, we will find these individuals traveling through a life pattern in which they are repeatedly attempting to discover the most appropriate manner in which to act. They are constantly vacillating.

Sexually, a similar pattern occurs. Many partners are experimented with in an attempt to find out "how to perform" in sex. Or then again, if there is sufficient insecurity, the individual will hold back from acting at all. He or she may be the wallflower, watching everything happen from the outside. In effect, these individuals are simply "out of tune." They don't know what appropriate action to take. They may attempt to force their "tune" on others, or they will often act in a noisy, loud fashion, their mouths going on and on. A prototype of this group is Mussolini. The Duce's curled lower lip was part of his trademark. Many of these individuals retain strong oral traits.

Oral Traits Related to Food as an expression of Emotional Deprivation in Infancy: Some overeat and become obese. Others undereat or, being gluttonous, will eat a myriad of mixed foods. Many activities involving the mouth are noted; chewing gum,

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lipstick, smoking, pills of all kinds. Anything and everything is indiscriminately shoved into the mouth. As we mentioned, these individuals often talk excessively, loudly, and inappropriately, since they are "out of tune" with their environment.

Oral Traits Related to Dependency: As mentioned, this aspect is, for the authors, of singular importance in this group. The infant, initially passive and dependent on the mother, begins early on to strive for autonomy. The healthy person can enjoy having things done for him, while remaining at the same time confident of his own ability to take independent action. This ability to act, if markedly impaired, results in the adult character we are describing.

Oral Traits Related to the Experience of Insecurity and Discomfort:

When security and comfort have been repeatedly threatened during the initial period of growth, the individual begins to develop ideas about how to act on the environment so as to render it secure, consistent, and comfortable. His ideas are either totally idealistic and ungrounded (out of tune), or dogmatic and unmoving.

Oral Traits Related to a Lack of Tenderness, Control, and Affection:

During the early stage of development, physical contact as an expression of affection and tenderness may be impaired. The individual experiences a sense of lack. As an adult, he attempts to achieve contact and warmth through sexual interaction. However, not knowing how to act appropriately, besides lacking an inner sense of security, he will engage in frantic, indiscriminate sexual behavior, or withdraw into sexual timidity.

The tendencies toward withdrawal may become predominant, and the individual will present character traits to be found in the next stage of emotional development, namely the anal stage. This stage is involved principally with the attention to bowel and sphincter function. How toilet training has been handled helps to determine the individual's attitude toward punctuality, authority, neatness, doing one's "duty" every day, and, finally, holding on to things. That is, the feces may be seen as a material possession to be held onto even in the face of extenal parental pressure to use the "potty." The most significant trait here, however, seems to be that of "holding onto

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things." Such individuals may be found to be avaricious. They are collectors of stamps, goods and, most often, money. They are stingy with material goods as well as with giving of themselves emotionally. They are emotionally withdrawn and insecure. They hold back, not daring to commit themselves, since they really do not know what that means. Instead, they hold on, keeping everything to themselves.

When the tendency to dogmatize and/or idealize takes on prominence, a character type develops that generally appears to include the following:

1.Many grandiose (overblown) ideas.

2.A dogmatic defense of the faith, whatever the faith may be: America, religion, capitalism, communism, etc.

3.Overweight (or a history of being overweight).

All of the above, as we have already indicated, can be seen as an expression of not knowing how to act in order to accomplish the gratification one desires. Orality is most clearly expressed in "mouthing" many ideas about "how one should act" to set things right (so as to attain gratification).

Hence, upon viewing a face, Area 1 should be examined in terms of the predominance of the activity of the mouth as compared to Areas 2 and 3 (eyes). Is this person constantly "shooting off his mouth?" Or are there areas of his mouth which lack life and activity? The mouth may be retracted to one or another side, or a person may speak out of the side of his mouth, or again, like Mussolini, project the midlower lip forward.

It is beyond the scope of this present work to go into further details. To summarize, the shape and activity of the mouth makes a direct statement as to the degree of orality present in the individual. Our central concept is that during the oral stage, normal development allows for feelings of security which enable the person to grow, self-assert, and discover. When this process is disrupted, the result is a feeling of insecurity, as well as a basic inability toward action.

In this illustration, the mouth is drawn to one side in a typical distortion. It should be easy for the reader to imagine

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FIGURE 38. MOUTH WITH RETRACTED RIGHT CORNER.

the mouth drawn to the other side, or with the central area of the mouth pushed forward.

Delineating Area 1, and separating it from Areas 2 and 3, are the nasolabial folds. Please refer to Figure 36 (page 91). It will be noted that the thighs occupy the grooves of the naso-labial folds. In our experience, those individuals who present deeply drawn folds in this area have lived lives which continuously drain on their energies. It is a sign of depressed vitality and strain. In a sense, their ability to take action has been exhausted.

The thighs, esoterically, have been related to capacity: That is, what an individual can do in terms of available energy. If the reader will take a moment to stand up, shut the eyes and place awareness to the thighs, he or she should be able to feel the capacity of energy within.

Areas 2 and 3

The most prominent structure, of course, is the eye. The left and right eye have different energetic, emotional, and

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personal-historical significance.* In some esoteric schools and Western growth communities, the left eye is referred to as the eye of "essence" or "being," while the right eye is the eye of "personality" or "ego." In terms of our work, the left eye reflects more the integrity of the "core" or "intrinsic being" layer (see p. 100), and the right eye reflects the "extrinsic" or "doing" layer. The left eye is the "receptive" eye. Through it we take in the world. In this sense it is Yin or female. It reflects the nature and character of our earliest life relationship, namely that with our mother. If this relation was a healthy one in which we felt nourished and secure, free of all fears of abandonment, then our sense of self or beingness is solid. In effect, we become "somebody," a person with a secure sense of our own existence as a person, by virtue of having been treated as such by our mothers. We know who we are and are secure in our self-worth and self-esteem. If the relationship was not nourishing, then we lack a sense of self. Our perception of ourselves and the world about us is radically different from those of a person with a strong sense of his or her own being. Anxiety and fear of abandonment**stains all our experience. We see the world through a screen constructed of the emotional charge we had with our mother.

When viewing the face, the balance and energy between the two eyes is evaluated. In Figure 39, we can clearly see that the left eye lacks the life and vitality present in the right eye. We can conclude that this person lacks a deep sense of self-worth, is anxious, and has difficulty in receiving. Fundamentally, he doesn't know what it means to be simply present. He elaborates and, as a reaction formation, tells others how to be. Often, he assumes religious, philosophical, or spiritual leadership roles. He searches with-out himself. Feeling worthless within, he frequently becomes apathetic. On the other hand, he also

* In the field of homeopathic medicine, inherited disease traits occur in the left eye when inherited from the mother, and in the right eye when inherited from the father. ** Karen Horney, a neo-Freudian analyst, stressed this concept of an early "basic anxiety" as underlying all neurotic behavior patterns.

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FIGURE 39. LEFT EYE LACKING ENERGY.

constantly attempts to find something or someone that will give him a sense of worth and beingness.

The right eye, as the eye of personality (ego) or extrinsic doing layer, reflects our relationship with our father. It is our active, Yang, masculine, outgoing eye. Through it, we project out energies. If our relationship with our father was secure (in a sense, if he took us by the hand and showed us the way in the world), then our ability to deal with our relations to others is healthy. The father, after all, adds a third important dimension to the child-mother bond. In dealing with this relationship, the father lays down the pattern with which the child will relate to "others" in general. A disruption of this pattern leads to numerous relational problems. We see the world through the screen of a distorted child-father relationship. Not knowing how to relate, we may develop paranoid systems, in which our will is being tested. There is an ongoing, deep-seated distrust of others. Often, to overcome this, these individuals will attempt to take over and run the show. Not trusting, they feel the need to control. Not knowing what God or society's trip is, they decide that it is best to become "a little god." This is reflected back to the world as vanity, accompanied by some degree of aggression. Homosexuality may be present in this group of individuals, since they have a relational problem with